I'm on the home straight now, with my exams in three weeks, and have started thinking about what will happen next.
Obviously I need to gather experience and work with clients,...but just wondered what your advice would be, and what you did next. There are so many options and I'm eager to keep learning, but do you think I should wait and work with actual real clients for a while first?
What was your first step after basic qualification?
What course have you done that has changed the way you work most and for the better?
Just curious to gather the collective wisdom of your experiences 😀
Thell x
PS: I got so frustrated with my case studies, not being able to get rid of knots and not knowing what to do for the best...I bought The Concise Book of Trigger Points and tried a spot of ICT on someone - and the knot melted away! I've since done it again with good effect, and have even felt the muscle twitch response when I found the right spot - so exhilarating to be able to make a difference! I'm hungry for more information now,...
depends what you want to do, do you want to specialise in - massage or a broader career.
My most popular treatments as a therapist are:
Massage (I use the term broadly because I have trained in many different styles Eastern and Western and I tend to use various techniques).
Reflexology.
Facials.
After I did my ITEC massage qualifications I then did No Hands Massage. I then realised that I didn't know how to deal with pain conditions and then discovered Jing advanced massage training courses. The latter has definately changed the way I work for the better. Trigger point therapy and all the other associated ways of treating pain are very effective.
Once you've finished your training that is when you'll find that your real learning starts. You may find yourself naturally drawn to working with certain types of clients or conditions.
Goood luck on your journey.
Depends what you have a leaning towards.
I would say reflexology but only if you have an interest. I have seen therapists who add tools to their box but have told me they don't "get" the treatment they are offering.
Some courses are long term i.e a year or so but you might want to do some courses such as hopi ear candles or reiki, which don't take as long.
But, what do YOU want to do?
Patchouli
Ooh, thanks guys - and Stephen Jeffery for replying to this but on another thread!
His advice was to work with clients for a while first, which I know is good advice - I'm just being impatient 🙂
I started this whole journey intending to do Aromatherapy actually - but whilst working with my case studies I kept coming across tight knots that they really needed to have released, but I couldn't do anything. In the end after doing a bit of searching on't net, I found some info on trigger points and bought the Concise Book...that short description of Ishaemic Compression Technique has helped me to feel three knots on three different people melt away. It was so empowering to be able to do something really positive...now I'm considering Remedial / Sports Massage, or Trigger POint Therapy, or Deep Tissue Massage, or Myo-Fascial Release, or ....!
:confused::D
Or do I stick with Aromatherapy first?
Hei Thell
You sound so fascinated with your trigger points techniques! Its wonderful! But I completely agree with you. Ischaemic compression is like magic, isn't it!
I think your passion and "hunger" for being good at what you do is what will make an excellent practitioner out of you, no matter what route you take.
It sounds to me though, from what you are saying, that maybe remedial/deep tissue massage is your most logical next step...
Anyway, my couple of suggestions are:
- STR (Soft Tissue Release Techniques) is a MUST. For me it has been the cream and butter of my practice (together actually with the magic technique we were talking about, NMT or ischaemic or whatever you wanna call it)
- And Art Riggs. Check out his courses. I know he is coming in the spring and he'll be teaching at the NLSSM in london in may but he is around the world sharing his great knowledge all the time. Very inspiring and will give you simple techniques to really make a difference with your clients.
Best wishes and welcome to the massage world!!!
M
Massage Space, thank you that's great feedback to have 🙂
I'm still on a bit of a high - the first time I tried Ischaemic wotsit my client (case study) was asleep, so I tried it surreptitiously, gradually increasing pressure...he didn't feel a thing and stayed asleep - so I actually thought I'd imagined it when the knot seemed to suddenly sink! The second time the client was awake and said she felt the same twang I did, then the tissues releasing. Just magic!
(BTW I've looked at your website, and it's really inspiring! I'm tempted to book a massage just so I can ask you loads of questions and glean lots of knowledge 😉
You've inspired to try Trigger Points Therapy! I have just ordered the book! 🙂
Blimey, Claire, I hope you're not disappointed!!
The Concise Book I've got is just that really - it shows the usual points where knots develop and where the pain or ache radiates to, then there's a very brief description of how to do Ischaemic Compression Technique, which is essentially pressing on the knot, as well as other more invasive techniques which I guess are for physios.
It's helped me to get a better idea of exactly which muscle the knot may be in, e.g. is it the trapezius or supraspinatus beneath?
But I'd love to do a short course I think - no substitute for hands-on learning.
Thanks Thell!
you are wellcome any time!
M
I've had a look on amazon for that book, and it comes up with 2 different ones.
could you possibly give me the ISBN number or a link please.
It's this one Poppy:
x x x
thanks thell, i also ordered 1 on Sunday, waiting for it to arrive . wishing you all the best in your future
mary xx
Thanks, I've ordered it.
(A year or so on ... i know) but...
I have just seen this too and ordered one. I start my course on monday and want to give myself the best possible chance of doing well absorbing as much as I can.
Thank you!! x